Death In The Family
At 9 pm in Stonebridge, the fog covering the downhill homes suggests it will rain soon. The small town was built near a lake but on the top of the hill there was a huge estate; called the Allen Estate.
In the living room sat Elizabeth, her mascara running; holding a handkerchief tightly.
She started to hear footsteps approach the living room.
“Liz, you can’t cry forever… It's been three weeks.”
Elizabeth sniffles and looks up.
“How can you be so… okay by this?”
“I’m not, I just don’t choose to cry everyday she asked us to be strong; I gave my word.”
Elizabeth gave her brother a blank expression. She couldn’t believe he was implying that she wasn’t being strong like she promised.
“I am being strong! You are being heartless!” Elizabeth snapped
Eric walked over and tried to hug her but she pushed him away.
“She was your mother too! You should be heartbroken!”
“Liz-”
“Oh, Eric stop you didn’t even cry at the funeral. Dad is inconsolable, Ethan doesn’t speak, Elena is having nightmares and nobody knows where grandpa is or if he’s okay and I’m a wreck. Then there’s you … just calm like you never loved her!”
Elizabeth raising her voice caused their Aunt Donna to check in on them.
“Is everything alright in here?”
“Yes… Elizabeth just doesn’t understand my form of grieving.”
“Grieving! Oh no you are not grieving, you are emotionless!”
“Liz honey calm down your brother is dealing with Esther’s death in his own way. Please do not be upset with him.”
Aunt Donna walks over to Elizabeth and sits in between the two of them. She rests Elizabeth’s head on her chest and rubs her back.
“It’s okay to miss her Lizzie, I miss her too. She was my only sibling.”
More footsteps approach the living room but they seem fant as if somebody was trying to sneak past. Elizabeth lifts her head.
“Dad?”
No one answers. Lizzie walks over to the open hallway; looking to the left and to the right and there was no dad in sight.
She looked back at Donna and Eric who was curious to know if he finally left his room.
“I don’t see him”
They all looked concerned.
“That’s okay honey, maybe he’s still not ready to talk.”
Elizabeth sat down back on the couch. Silence echoes through the rooms for a brief minute then a loud knock at the door.
“I’ll get it, Liz can stay with you” said Eric.
Eric walked over to the door and opened it. The old door struggled to open quietly and let out a slow piercing creaking noise.
“Oh… hello Sheriff Marks”
“Hello Eric, is your dad home?”
“Yes, but he still isn’t leaving his room. I’m handling things for now.”
“Very well, I know your aunt mentioned your grandfather was missing”
“Yes, have you found him?”
“No, but I found this by Stonebridge park”
Sheriff Marks hands Eric a small gold pocket watch with the initials JM carved into it. It had tiny spots that looked like mud on it.
“Grandfather’s pocket watch, yes this is his.”
“I thought I would ask your dad what he would doing about there all by himself..”
“I’m pretty sure my dad wouldn’t know… they don’t really get along.”
“Yes, I see. Okay well…when I find anything I’ll let you know”
“Thank you Sheriff”
Sheriff Marks nods and leaves.
